<p>So let me begin by introducing myself. Im a senior at Townsend Harris High School pretty much torn between two decisions for college: the Brooklyn BA/MD 8 year program or the Sophie Davis 7 year program. Both are great programs but with some limitations. I was initially leaning towards Brooklyn BA/MD program because of the academic freedom BUT their program is longer, involves taking the MCAT, and would be more expensive (you have to pay the Medical school fee). As I understand, Sophie limits you to primary care (which they outlined as Internal Medicine/Pediatrics/Family Medicine/ OBGYN) and you have to serve in an underserved NY area for two years. So my questions are: </p>
<ol>
<li> After you finish Sophie, the residency and have served for two years, can you go back and do another residency or fellowship in an area thats not Primary care related? Is it difficult to do this? I ask only because Im really intrigued by neurology...</li>
<li>Is travel abroad and research feasible for kids in Sophie Davis? How heavy is the course load?</li>
<li>Do you get to choose which physician shortage area you get to work in? </li>
<li>Do many students pay the 75k fee and decide not to do primary care? Do a lot of kids drop out? </li>
<li>Do the majority of students live in apartments/dorms/home? It would take me a total of 3.5-4 hours travel each day if I were to commute....</li>
<li>When you go to the participating Medical school, do you pay the CUNY tuition rate or the Medical school tuition? There were also some rumors about if Dartmouth is still participating, is it? Why do many of the kids go to SUNY Downstate as opposed to NYU Med/Dartmouth? Is it hard to match to them?</li>
<li>I also got the New Era Scholarship. Does that only cover the first 4 years at City? </li>
</ol>
<p>lol I know these are a lot of questions but Im so torn D:. Feel free to give any advice as you see fit!! Ultimately the question is, which would you choose?
Thank you so much!!!!</p>
<p>My D got accepted to a few BS/MD programs but she withdrew her application from Sofia Davis program due to some of the following concerns.
Only last 2 years of medical education is in real medical school. Rest (5-6 years) are all at CUNY - Sofia Davis.
During the last 2 years you pay full medical school rate (55k - 65k per year).
The curriculam has mainly primary doctor focus in the education during the period at Sofia Davis.
$75000 penalty for breaking the contract. About 15-20% breaks the contract.
NYC has very high cost of living (12k-14k for rent only with shared accomodation).
Situated in the middle of Harlem and is not a good neighbourhood.
Not sure if it is favorable on the cost-benefit ratio.</p>
<p>I deff disagree with the person above. I know people who have been in both programs. Actually answered your question on yahoo.</p>
<p>I would choose Sophie Davis no doubt…Sophie Davis is actually very renowned because it is one of the very few programs that are 7 years. They also have great connections with Albert Einstein Med, NYU Med, and also Cornell Med. I actually know three people who attend the brooklyn BA/MD program, and they don’t like it because of various reasons. Two of those people actually transferred out of the program because they feel they could do better elsewhere. You are obviously more than capable of being a doctor, so honestly Sophie is a better choice. </p>
<ol>
<li>Yes you can go back and do something to do something not in primary care. </li>
<li>I know of a person who has traveled abroad and done tons of research at Sophie. That’s another positive, there are a LOTTTT more research opportunities at Sophie than BK. This factor is vital when apply to residency positions. </li>
<li>I actually think you can choose which area you can work it. I think you give them your top choices of where you want to work, and you get one of those choicews. </li>
<li>Not sure about the 75k thing…and I know Sophie Davis has a very low drop out rate. In fact, its on of the few programs that has a high graduation rate because it is so competitive, that the people in it are so motivated. I know last year 7 of the 16 kids at the Brooklyn Program got kicked out because of failing to maintain the proper GPA. </li>
<li>If your commute is so long, i’d suggest dorming. the dorms at sophie are MUCH better than BK’s. </li>
<li>You pay the medical school tuition. Dartmouth is still paticipating. many people choose downstate over nyu and dartmoth is because the medical school tuition rate. downstate is a state med school so it is naturally cheaper. </li>
<li>I believe that after your 4 years at City, you get some other type of scholarship. </li>
</ol>
<p>But all in all, deff choose Sophie…it’s much more well known in the medical field.</p>
<p>Hmm baller930, I am facing the same choice but I was actually leaning to Brooklyn. I don’t know how valid is your statement. First of all, students told me that it’s basically 8 years now b/c of U.S med school curriculum changes. It’s going to be 8 years if you decide to go to NYU or Downstate, and they might officially change it to 8 years for all med schools. In terms of research, i actually know two Intel Semis from my school THIS YEAR who worked w/ professors from downstate. so i think the rsrch opportunities are about equal. Also, sophie students told me dartmouth is not participating in the matching, so idk where you got the information that it is. Then, there is sophie’s fine for specializing.That’s not a rumor. Plus, Brooklyn also gives you more freedom in terms of majors. People in general told me from brooklyn that the 3.5 gpa and 27 mcat aren’t hard to maintain. Next, in terms of selectivity of the programs, i don’t know the specifics, but a lot of the students in my school who made sophie didn’t make Brooklyn. I don’t know anyone at least in my school who’s in the reverse position. Can you tell me specifically the “various reasons” that your friends didn’t like brooklyn ba md? Is there really such a high drop out rate? I’m really scared now because i thought i would definitely go to brooklyn over sophie.</p>
<p>omg Boguan I’m in the exact same place!!!
I was leaning towards Brooklyn as well just because of the academic freedom of where to specialize and freedom in undergrad. It does not make sense to pay 75k penalty to specialize when Brooklyn is an option and Sophie’s education is GEARED for primary care. As for undergrad, I could actually double major in Biology and Psychology in Brooklyn…which is exactly what I wanted… But hearing that Sophie may switch the 8 years would definitely solidify me to Brooklyn.
Brooklyn definitely seems much more selective than Sophie. There were 4 students who got into Sophie from my school, and only 1 for Brooklyn.
I spoke to a student who told me that Dartmouth is ending their partnership this year because it is expensive to hold these parternships for these schools. The seats NYU are limited as well (NYU seems to only wants the people who have the highest GPAs)…Most kids actually go to SUNY Downstate from Sophie anyway…</p>
<p>HOWEVER, the MCAT will be changing for 2015 I believe and that Brooklyn raised the score requirement from 27 to now 30, and will be adding additional requirements for the additional Psych and Sociology sections…so this is deterring me from choosing Brooklyn.</p>
<p>I see that you’ve been accepted to these medical programs, can you please help me? i’m a current high school senior in Long Island NY, and i am really looking forward to apply to sophie davis and brooklyn BA MD programs. What were ur stats to get in? i have a 1920 sat(expecting it to go up to atleast 2000/2100) and 94 GPA/8 AP classes/shadowed a physician for the past 2 years/science honor society/executive board for National Honor Society/varsity track/volunteer with alzeimer’s patients in the summer/varsity volleyball champ/Spanish honor society/more non academic e.c’s, do I stand a chance with relatively low sat scores&GPA?</p>
<p>My D is at Sophie 3rd year and is doing great! No MCATs and 5000 tuition for 5 years, just cant beat it. She lives just outside of campus and is very happy there. The 60 + kids accepted become such a close knit family and the support from staff is excellent. She looks to NYU for Med school and we are very proud of her. Her stats were about 1800 SAT-28ACT, 93 UW/101 W GPA, much Ecs and worked in hospital for a summer. She is very happy there and I wish all who apply good luck. Be aware that the interview is very important so know about the program before you go for interview. Do become familiar with contract for 2 years to work in underserved community. This is the trade off for low tuition.</p>
<p>yolie3000- It is great to hear that your daughter is satisfied with SD. Did your daughter received any affirmative action from SD? My friend applied to SD and Brooklyn BA-MD this year and is waiting for to hear from them. He has almost the same stats as your D. Hope he will get an admission too! I wanted to apply, but didn’t. Got into Cornell.</p>
<p>Looking at this thread, Brooklyn does seem to be the better program. SD dropped Stony Brook med and Dartmouth med, and the primary care requirement doesn’t help me, especially if I want to go into surgery. Brooklyn offers a lot more freedoms for your education, and the claim that finding research at one place vs another is just not true. Just ask around. Even if you can’t find any research, you are in one of the largest cities in the world, try to find something outside of campus. I don’t mind the MCAT requirement, because it is only like the 75th percentile for a 30.</p>
<p>@TheBombingRange, you can just pay the 75000 fine if you are really not feeling primary care. Also remember that Sophie is a 7 year program, while Brooklyn is 8 years. Also, you are really bound to Downstate, regardless of how well you do on the MCAT. Plus Sophie Davis still has NYU Med on the table, and is working on new partnerships including an MD granting school at CUNY. Saying you went to Sophie Davis holds a tad bit more prestige than saying you are going to Bklyn (just my opinion lol)</p>
I’m really scared now because i thought i would definitely go to brooklyn over sophie.</p>